Glass handling machine



June 9, 1942. s F GRElN ETAL 2,285,921 y GLASS HANDLING MACHINE Filed 001;. 30, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet l June 9, 1942- s. F. @REIN Erm. 2,285,921

GLASS HANDLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS June 9, 1942. s, F, GRElN Ef-AL 2,285,921

GLASS HANDLING MACHINE FiledOct. 30, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 .mw fr su, um .N r6.., w j l I I l I I I I l l I I l I l l I l I l I I I I l I l IIN. 1\ M lmh. mw waff un... mm ww Si 14 L QE. J WM w JILITIMVIIIII |.Wl l 'Ill' if 6%/ \.\w\ \l1w III! I\|I||. Il QN I r In.. o ...IVI vHllllll. .IHIIHHH 1 vm V@ @l Mv C 85-11. .mmf Q NN H m, w MM -i M l ,n Nw 4 i Mw omv wm. 1 uw m* ...o IVI M A .Nn wn L m w. .m ww Kimm o WQ m.w1\ Q m@ 59nd m 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 S. F. GREIN ETAL GLASS HANDLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1937 June 9, 1942.

June 9, 1942. s. F. GREIN ETAL GLASS HANDLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 50, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 9, .1942. s. E. GREIN :rr/1u;l 2,285,921

GLASS HANDLING MACHINE Filed oct. so, 1937 8 sheets-sneu 6 INVENTORS June 9, 1942. 5', F, GRElN ETAL 2,285,921

' GLASS HANDLING MACHINE INVENTORS Patented June 9, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE GLASS HANDLING MACHINE of Pennsylvania Appiication October 39, 1937, Serial No. 171,860

(Cl. 21E- 52) 2i) Claims.

The present invention relates generally to glass handling apparatus and more particularly to a machine for automatically and mechanical- 1y handling the glass sheets, for labeling the individual sheets, and for properly stacking the glass sheets for subsequent packing.

In accordance with our invention we provide glass handling apparatus which is of such character as to carry a sheet of glass on a continuous belt past a work station at which may be mounted a labeling machine for placing labels on the glass sheets, the labeling apparatus being so arranged as to be automatically operable upon the passage of a sheet of` glass past the labeling mechanism. In accordance with our invention We also provide apparatus cooperating with the, aforesaid continuous belt for automatically feeding the glass sheets tol the said conveying mechanism in timed relationwith respect thereto, the feeding mechanism being of such character as to permit the stacking of the glass sheets vertically on the feeding mechanism and to cause the glass sheets to individually move from a vertical position to a horizontal position on the belt or other continuous conveying mechanism utilized for carrying the glass sheets past the labeling mechanism. In accordance with our invention we also provide apparatus which is actuated in timed relationship with the apparatus for conveying the glass sheets past the labeling mechanism for moving the glass sheets from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position on adjacent conveying mechanism and for automatically placing paper between the glass sheets as they are stacked.

The apparatus which We provide by our invention constitutes a substantial improvement over any o1" the prior art methods and apparatus for labeling and handling glass sheets. The apparatus which we provide may be mounted on a single base structure and the operating parts are of such relatively simple character that the cost of production will be relatively low. The apparatus which we provide is positive in operation and will not get out of adjustment during the use thereof. rille handlingoi glass is entirely mechanical and automatic from the time the glass sheets are placed on the apparatus and consequently the cost of labeling and handling the glass sheets is materially lower than the cost incurred in the present known methods of handling and labeling the individual glass sheets. Another advantage of the machine which We provide is that it may be readily adjusted to `permit the handling and labeling of sheets of various different sizes.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown for purposes of illustration only the presently preferred embodiment of our invention. It will be understood, however, that our invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown in the drawings. It will also be understood that the labeling apparatus may be utilized separate and apart from the glass handling apparatus provided for placing the glass sheets on the labeling conveyor and for removing them therefrom and that the glass sheets may be readily placed on and removed from such conveying apparatus manually. It will also be understood that the handling apparatus which we provide for placing the glass sheets on the conveying mechanism may be utilized in conjunction With different types of apparatus where it is desired to feed glass sheets or other similar articles automatically from a vertical position to a horizontal position individually and in timed relationship with conveying mechanism of any character. It will also be understood that the mechanism for removing the glass sheets from the labeling conveyor mechanism may be utilized in connection with other than labeling apparatus, that is, it may be utilized in any environment where it is desirable to remove glass sheets or other similar articles individually from conveying mechanism and to stack them in a vertical position and to provide spacing sheets between the glass sheets.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown our invention as applied to the labeling and handling of glass sheets. In the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine provided by our invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan View taken along the line II-II of Figure l;

Figures 3a and 3b comprise an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line III- III of Figure 2, Figure 3a showing the left hand end of the apparatus and Figure 3b showing the right hand end of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line IV- IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V--V of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a View partly in section, partly in plan, of thelabeling magazine and the mechanism for feeding and applyinglabels to the glass sheets, the section portion of this U being taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 3b;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic elevational View showing the conveying mechanism for handling the glass sheets and the labeling mechanism for applying the labels to the glass sheets; and

Figure 10 is a sectional View taken along the line X-X of Figure 2.

In the structure shown on the drawings the glass sheets to be labeled are stacked on edge on a continuous belt A. This belt is driven through mechanism to be d escribed and the movement of this belt is synchronized with the movement of the belt B Which is adapted t carry the glass sheets in a substantially horizontal position beneath the labeling mechanism. Apparatus is provided for separating the `leading glass` sheet on the belt A from the remaining glass sheets in the stack and for causing the leading glass sheet to drop onto the belt or conveying mechanism B at the proper time so that operating mechanism carried by the belt B will function to operate the labeling and stacking mechanism at the proper time. Each glass sheet which is fed to the belt B is carried beneath the labeling apparatus and a small amount of water is deposited on the glass sheet at the proper point and a label thereafter placed on the wetted spot and pressed into adhesive engagement with the glass sheet. The glass sheet then continues along the belt B and is discharged therefrom onto a continuous belt C which is rotated at the same speed as the belt B. As the glass sheet passes over this belt and as the leading edge thereof moves beyond the belt C to the continuous belt D, trip mechanism is brought into play for actuating apparatus for raising the glass sheet to a substantially vertical position on the belt D. A stop member or rest for supporting the glass sheets in substantially vertical position is provided on the belt D. Immediately after the glass sheet is transferred from a horizontal position on the belt C to a substantially vertical position on belt D certain apparatus is actuated for fee-ding the free end of a roll of pape-r downwardly along the free face of the glass sheet and for cutting off the excess paper. The paper sheets are placed between the glass sheets so as to prevent breakage of the glass sheets in the further handling or shipping thereof. The belt D is moved at a much slower rate of speed than the belts B and C, the belt D moving approximately the thickness of a glass sheet each time that a glass sheet is placed thereon in a vertical position.

It will be apparent that after a sufcient number of glass sheets have been placed on the belt D by the stacking mechanism these sheets may be removed therefromv and boxed for shipment or the glass sheets may be packed while still on the belt D; that is, the glass sheets having been provided with spacing papers and being located on the belt in a vertical position, it is only necessary for the packer to place an appropriate packing box on the stack of glass sheets and then to place the top on the box and the glass sheets are then ready for shipment.

It will be apparent that the machine which we provide will only satisfactorily label a relatively small number of sizes of glass sheets for any given setting thereof. However, the machine which we provide is of such character that it may be readily adjusted to permit the handling and labeling of a substantial number of different sizes of sheets.

In the structure shown in the drawings the four conveyor belts A, B, C and D, are mounted on a main frame -or bed 2. These belts are mounted on rollers which are suitably journaled in bearings in the frame and having. take-up bearings or boxes for tensioning the belts. The loading belt A and the delivery or stacker belt D are moved intermittently, whereas the labeling belt B and the transfer belt C are driven continuously and at the same rates of speed. A single drive may be provided for the conveyor belt. As shown in the drawings, the driving of the belts is effected by a motor 3 operating through a gear reducer 4, sprocket wheels 5 and and a chain 1. The sprocket wheel 6 is mounted on the shaft 8 of the roller 9 about which the belt B passes. The end of the shaft 8 opposite the end on which the sprocket wheel 6 is mounted is provided with a journal I9. Beyond the journal I 0 the shaft is provided with a disk II having an adjustable wrist pin I2 which forms an eccentric or crank upon which is journaled a pair of connecting rods I3 and I4. The other end of the connecting rod I3 cooperates with pawl and ratchet mechanism for -driving the roll I5 of the loading belt A. The outer end of the connecting rod I4 is similarly connected with a pawl and ratchet mechanism carried on the shaft of the roll I6 of the delivery belt D. These pawl and ratchet structures are identical and comprise a crank arm I1 which is journaled to turn on the roll shaft and which is connected to the connecting rod. Ihe crank arm I1 carries a pawl I8 which engages a ratchet wheel I9 which is Xed to the shaft of the roll. These ratchets are so disposed with respect to their shafts that movement of the eccentric is imparted to one of the rolls while the other remains stationary. This motion reverses for each half revolution of the drive roll 9 of the label belt B so that upon rotation of the roller 9 through 180 the ratchet mechanism for actuating the roller I5 of the loading belt A will be actuated a predetermined distance. During the next one-half revolution of the roller 9 of the labeling belt B, the ratchet mechanism for the roller I6 will be brought into operation and the roller I6 moved a predetermined distance. The ratchet mechanism and other operating parts of the belts A and D are so arranged that each actuation of the rollers I5 and I6 will move the belts A and D, respectively, through a distance amounting to the thickness of the glass sheets being labeled.

As is apparent the loading belt A passes around the roller I5. It also passes around a roller 20 which is journaled in bearings 2|. These bearings are preferably of such character as to permit adjustment of the tension of the belt A. The top run of the belt A is supported between the rollers I5 and 2i) on tables 22 and rollers 23. The table 22 and the rollers 23 are provided for the purpose of forming a solid base for the belt for supporting the sheets which are to be delivered by the loading belt A to the label belt B.

The label belt B is mounted on the rollers 9 and 24 and is provided with a supporting table 25 immediately beneath the upper run of the belt for the purpose of providing a satisfactory support for the glass sheets as they are carried 'beneath the labeling mechanism. The rollers 9 and 24 carry sprocket wheels 29. The sprocket wheels on each side of the belt are connected by sprocket chains 21 which are connected to the belt B for the purpose of providing a positive drive for the belt. The sprocket wheels and sprocket chains are desirable in order to preclude any possibility of slippage between the belt B and the rollers 9 and 24. Such slippage would preclude synchronization of the operation of the various belts and the other mechanism to be described hereinafter.

The transfer belt C is composed of a plurality of narrow belts disposed in spaced relation on rollers 28 and 29 which are mounted in bearings 30 and 3|, respectively, which are carried by the main frame. The roller 28 is driven continuously from the roller 9 through a belt 32 which cooperates with a pulley 33 on the shaft of the roller 28 and a pulley 34 on the shaft of the roller 9. The transfer belt C is for the purpose of moving the sheet against a stacker frame carried by the delivery belt D. The belt C is preferably made of rubber or is rubber-coated so as to provide sufficient friction between the belt and the glass sheet carried thereby to insure that the Aglass sheet is brought against the stacker frame before being raised on edge to stacked position.

The delivery belt D passes around the driven roller |6 and around the roller 35 which is mounted in suitable bearings 36 carried by the main frame adjacent the roller 28 of the transfer belt. Tables 31 are provided beneath the upper run of the belt D for the purpose of rendering support thereto for supporting the glass sheets which are carried thereby. Rollers 38 are also provided between the tables for aiding in supporting the belt and for reducing friction.

The belt B adjacent one edge thereof is provided with a plurality of trip members 39 and raised roller engaging portions 40 for actuating the delivery, labeling and stacking mechanisms to be specifically describe-d.

At the loading or feeding end of the machine a plurality of glass sheets are placed'on edgeon the belt A against an alining rail 4|. The leading sheet S of the glass sheets placed on the belt leans against stop members constituting part of the release mechanism about to be described. The alining rail 4| determines the position of the glass sheet transversely of the belt B and its position with respect to the labeling mechanism. The release mechanism against which the vertically disposed sheets of glass rest comprises a movable frame 42 having two upright standards 43. These standards 43 are connected adjacent their upper ends with a cross-piece 44 which is bolted to the standards through slcts 45 therein. This cross-piece 44 is mounted in this way so as to permit vertical adjustment thereof.

The cross-piece 44 carries 'two stops against which the upper edge of the leadingsheet of glass rests. One of the stops 46 is mounted for upward swinging so as to release the sheet and permit it to fall forward onto the label belt B. The other stop member 41 is a rubber rollerand is adapted to hold the sheet until the sheet has been slid transversely of the machine from behind the roller by means of a separator plate 48. The leading sheet S is also supported at the bottom edge by means of stops 49 and 50. The sto-p 49 is fixed to and carried by the guide frame of the separator plate 46. The stop member 56 is carried on a shaft 52 mounted on the frame and is adapted to be swung downwardly upon upward movement of the stop member 46 for releasing the upper edge of the sheet S. Stops 46 and 5! are both actuated through linkage from a common shaft 53 journaled in bearings 54 on the cross-piece 44. The shaft 53 hasy a crank arm 55 fixed to it. This crank arm is connected by meansV of a link 56 to a crank arm 51 which is fixed to a shaft 58 supported in a standard 59^fr`om the bearing for the roller 24 ofthe label belt B. The link 56 is adjustable in length so as to permit the cross-piece 44 to be raised or lowered for the handling of various sizes of sheets. The shaft 58 is normally urged to move clockwise by a spring 60. The crank arm 51 has an off-set portion or arm 6| which normally lies in the path of a trip lug 62 carried by the roller 24. The shaft 53 has fixed to it an arm 63 which is connected by a link 64 to the stop member 46.

Engagement of the lug 62 with the off-set portion 6| of the crank arm 51 causes the latch or stop member 46 to raise so as to permit the leading glass sheet to drop forwardly onto the label belt B. This is effected through the connections described above including the rotation of the shaft 53. This movement of the shaft 53 to raise the lug or stop member 46 also acts to depress the stop member 50. The linkage for accomplishing this comprises a crank arm 65 which is secured to the shaft 53, a link 66 which is connected to the crank arm 65 at its one end and to a crank arm 61 at its other end, the crank arm 61 being secured to the shaft 52. The link 66 is .connected to the crank arm 65 by two pivotal connections indicated by the reference character 68. This double pivotal connection permits the link 66 to move over when the guide rail 4| is moved to one side of its normal position to permit edge labeling. The shaft 52 carrying the arm 61 is journaled in a bearing carried by the adjustable guide rail. As pointed out above, the release mechanism is actuated in one direction by the trip 62 carried by the roll 24. It is actuated in the reverse direction by means of a spring 68 which is connected with the shaft 53 and rotates the shaft 53 in the reverse direction to return the sheet holding members 46 and 50 to holding position.

The shaft 53 also has aflixed to it an arm 16 having a rubber pad or face member 1| on one end thereof. This arm is preferably of resilient spring metal and its purpose is to push the leading sheet of glass forward toward the label belt B upon actuation of the shaft 53. This causes the glass to fall upon the belt B at the proper time. The glass is stacked on the loading belt at a slight angle to the vertical but if the starter arm is not utilized the leading glass sheet may not fall onto the belt promptly upon the actuation of the release mechanism and if this does not occur the glass sheet will not be properly located on the belt so as to permit proper actuation of the labeling and stacking mechanism with respect to the position of the glass sheet.

In order to permit the delivery of only one sheet of glass to the label belt at a time it is necessary to provide separating mechanism for separating the leading glass sheet from the remaining glass sheets in the stack on the loading belt A. This is accomplished by a separator plate 43 which moves the leading sheet from behind the stop members 41 and 49. This separator plate is mounted for sliding movement in the guide frame 5|. The lead edge 12 engages the edge of the leading sheet of the stack of glass sheets on the loading belt A and moves this sheet transversely of the stack of glass sheets a sufficient distance to permit it to fall forwardly past the stops 41 and 49 upon actuation of the stops 46 and 50. Actuation of the plate 48 causes the leading sheet S to move to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 and marked S. A rubber stop 13 is carried by the rail 4| for limiting the transverse movement of the leading glass sheet.

The separator plate 48 is connected by means of a link 14 to a lever 15 which is pivotally mounted at 16 to the separator guide plate. A bell crank 11 is mounted on a bracket 18 carried by one of the standards 43. bell crank 11 is connected with an eXtensible link 19 which is connected at the other end thereof to the lever 15. The other arm of the bell crank is connected to the upper end of a link 80. The link 80 is likewise extensible so as to permit vertical adjustment of the mechanism. The other end of the extensible link 80 is connected to a bell crank 8| which is loosely mounted on the shaft 58. The bell crank 8| is provided with an off-set trip arm 82 which is adapted to cooperate with the trip lug 62 carried by the roller 24.

A spring 83 normally maintains the separator in retracted position.

In operation, rotation of the roller 24 causes the lug 62 to contact the offset arm 82 of the crank 8| and by reason of the linkage just described to move the separator plate 48 to the left as shown in Figure 4. This moves the leading sheet of glass to the position indicated by the reference character S. Immediately thereafter, and upon continued rotation of the roller 24, the lug 62 comes in contact with the arm 6| which operates the release mechanism described above so that a glass sheet is deposited on the belt B.

As the glass sheet which has been deposited upon the label belt B is carried forwardly it passes beneath the labeling mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 84. The label magazine is a box-like structure 85i having side walls 86 and a bottom 81. The labels indicated at 88 are placed in the box as shown and abut against stops. pack of labels in the box there is a follower 99 which is normally drawn forward against the pack of labels by a weight 9| which is suspended above the label box on a bracket 92 and which is connected to the follower 90 by a cable 93 which passes about pulleys 94. The weight 9| acts to keep the labels compacted and to pull them forwardly against the stop members 89.

At the forward end of the magazine, separator and feed mechanism is provided for separating and feeding downwardly onto the glass a single label at any one time. This mechanism is intermittently operable as the glass sheets pass beneath the magazine.

The separator comprises a rubber headed wiper arm 95 which is secured to a shaft 96 journaled in the side walls of the magazine. This shaft extends beyond the magazine and at its outer end 1s provided with a trip nger which lies inthe path of movement of the trip members' carried by the label belt B. Engagement of the trip member 39 with the finger 91 causes the wiper arm 96 to swing down and, through the Contact of its rubber head with the leading label, will carry down a label into the bite of a pair of rolls 98 'and 99. The roll 99 is driven through a roller |00 which is secured to the shaft lill. The roller is positioned in the path of the raised pads 40 carried on the edge of the label belt. As the label belt moves forwardly a pad 40 will come in contact At the other end of the .f

One arm of the with the roller |00 and cause rotation of the roll 99 to feed a label downwardly onto a passing glass sheet. As the label is fed by the rolls it is directed forwardly by a guide member |02. When it is free of the guide member it falls upon a spot on the glass sheet which has previously been wetted by wetting mechanism to be described and as the glass sheet with the label thereon continues forwardly a roller |03 which is suspended from the brackets |04 carried by the label magazine causes the label to be forced into intimate contact with the glass sheet and to adhere thereto.

Before the glass sheet passes beneath the label magazine it passes beneath a water container |05.

The water container is mounted on a slide |06 which is provided with a projection |01. This projection |91 is positioned to be engaged by a cam |09 carried by a shaft |09. This shaft carries an arm l|0 which is so positioned that it will be engaged by a trip member 39 as it passes thereby.

The trip member actuates the arm ||0 andthrough the mechanism just described the water container which is provided with a wick is moved downwardly so that the wick is brought into contact with the glass and will deposit sufcient moisture on the glass for the wetting of the label when it is subsequently placed thereon.

After the label has been placed on the glass sheet the glass sheet continues in its movement past the labeling mechanism andA is deposited on the transfer belt C. As stated above, this transfer belt is formed-of a plurality of spaced belts, This spacing is provided so as to permit the movement of the glass sheets from a horizontal position to a vertical position on the stacker or delivery belt D by means of arms positioned below the conveyor. The elevation of the glass sheets from the horizontal position on the transfer belt to a verticsal position on the stacker or delivery belt is accomplished by transfer arms ||2. The arms ||2 are provided with rubber covered contact ends ||3 which are adapted to engage the glass sheets. These arms are rocked upwardly through a linkage connection by the trippers 39 carried by the label belt B. The arms H2 are xed to a shaft ||4 which is journaled in suitable bearings. The shaft has a crank arm H5 secured thereto. One end of the crank arm l5 is pivotally connected with a link IE and the other end of the link ||6 is connected by a link ||1 to a shaft HB. This shaft H8 is provided with a trip arm ||9 which is located in the path of the tripper 39. As the tripper 39 .engages the trip member ||9 the shaft ||8 is rocked and through the linkage just described the shaft ||4 is rocked in a clockwise direction as Viewed in Figure 3b and the arms 2 raise the glass sheet on the transfer belt C to a vertical position on the delivery or stacking belt D. The operation of the various belts is so synchronized that when the tripper 39 engages the trip member a glass sheet has reached the transfer mechanism and the leading edge thereof has come in contact with the stacker frame carried by the delivery belt.

As stated above the delivery belt D carries a stacker frame |20 which consists of an angle |2| having a horizontal leg portion which is bent at one end into the form of a jaw or hook to hook around the edge of the belt D as indicated at |22. The other end of the angle is provided with a movable clamping jaw |23 which is pivoted to the angle `and which is adapted to clamp the carried lby the frame |49.

opposite edge of the belt D. The clamp |23 is normally held in clamping contact with the Ibelt by means of a spring |24. In this manner the angle is secured to the belt against movement thereof. The angle |2| has secured to it an upright frame which consists of vertical and crosspieces |25 and a brace member |26 which rests upon the belt D. This stacker frame maintains the glass sheets in a substantially vertical position after they are moved to this position by the transfer arms ||2.

As each sheet of glass is elevated to vertical position against the stacker frame |20 a strip of paper is unwound from a roll of paper |21 and is fed down in front of the sheet. The next succeeding sheet is then brought up against the spacing paper.

The paper between the two sheets is cut off close to the top edge of the sheet by a shear indicated generally by the reference character |28. The shear mechanism is actuated through linkage which is adapted to engage the tripper 39 on the lower run of the belt B and this linkage is adapted to be actuated immediately after the actuation of the stacker mechanism. The shear consists of three thin strips of steel |29, and |3| forming the knives of the shear. These strips are carried on a cross rail |32 which is secured to the frame of the machine. The cross rail also 4carries a paper guide |33. The inter-l forms the pivotal mounting for the movable knife blade. The other endof the knife blade is connected by a link |35 to a crank arm |36 secured to a shaft |31. The shaft |31 is journaled in bearings |38 and |39. A spring |40 is connected to an arm |4| fixed to the shaft |31 which normally holds the shear blade in inoperative position. The shaft |31 carries a crank arm |42 which is connected by a link |43 to a link |44 fixed to a shaft |45. The shaft |45 has fixed thereto a tri-p member 45 which is positioned in the path of the tripper 39 carried by the label belt B. As the tripper 39 contacts the trip member |46 through the mechanism just described the shear is actuated and the paper sheared off adjacent the upper edges of the glass sheets.

The feeding of the paper to the glass sheets is accomplished through gearing actuated through connections to the drive roll of the label belt B. The roll of paper is supported on a shaft |41 which is supported on standards |48 mounted on the frame work indicated gener-ally by the reference character |49. The shaft |41 is sufficiently long and the standards |43 spaced sufficiently far apart to permit the use of rolls of paper of varying width so as to permit the use of sheets of paper sufficiently wide to take care of different sizes of glass sheets.

'Ihe paper is drawn from the roll |21 by means of feed rolls |50 which are journaled in bearings One of the feed rolls |50 is driven by a pinion |52 which is mounted on the outer end of the shaft |53 of the roll. This pinion |52 meshes with a gear |54 which is carried by a shaft |55 mounted on the frame |49. A ratchet wheel |56 is secured to the shaft |55 and this ratchet wheel is operated by a pawl |51 carried by a crank arm |58 which is loosely mounted on the shaft |55. The other end of the crank arm |58 is yconnected to an adjustable link |58. The adjustable link or pitman |59 is connected to a crank arm |60 on the shaft of the roller 9. The crank arm |60 is slotted to receive the pivotal connection of the pitman whereby the length of throw of the crank arm |60 may be varied. As will be readily understood, rotation of the shaft of the roller `9 will cause the mechanism just described to feed the paper downwardly during one-half a revolution of said shaft and the pawl |51 will slide over the ratchet |55 during the continued rotation of the -shaft of the roller 9.

4The apparatus described above is of such character as to permit the handling of sheets of various sizes within certain limits. As shown in the drawings the machine is set for labeling sheets 3 x 10", the labels being placed on the glass sheets about two inches in from the right hand edge of the sheet. In some instances, however, it may be desirable to place the label in the corner at the extreme right hand edge of the sheet. In order to accomplish this it would be necessary to shift the guide rail which alines the sheets on the feed table. By moving the guide rail the sheets will 4be positioned so that the right hand edges thereof will be directly in line with the edge of the label. When the guide rail is moved in this manner it is necessary to move the sheet separator and its' guide plate and `sheet stops a distance corresponding to the distance the rail has been moved. As pointed out above and as shown in the drawings, these adjustments can readily be effected.

Additional adjustments must be eifected in order to permit the labeling of sheets of larger sizes. Assuming that the machine has been set for labeling v8 x 10 sheets and it is desired to label l2" x 14 sheets, it will be necessary to move or raise the cross rail which carries the release linkage to permit the larger sheets to pass under it. Also this rail and the standards on which it is carried are moved back on the bed or frame of the machine so that upon the releasing of the sheet it will fall upon the conveyor belt in such a position that its lead end will occupy the same relative position on the belt with respect to the trip mechanism as the lead edge of the smaller sheets of glass. In addition to these adjustments it is necessary to effect vertical adjustment of the shear mechanism at the stacker end of the machine. In addition to these adjustments, provision is made for moving the mechanism for feeding the glass sheets to the labeling belt B toward or away from the labeling belt. The entire frame 43 and the parts carried thereby are adjustable. This adjustment is effected by means of a shaft|65 which carries a pinion |66 which cooperates `with a rack |61 carried by the base portion of the frame 43. The shaft |55 is suitably mounted in bearings carried by the main frame 2 and one end extends therethrough and is adapted to receive a crank by means of which the shaft may be rotated. The crank end of the shaft is squared as indicated at |68. All of the connecting arms are made adjustable in the manner pointed out heretofore so as to permit the machine to be maintained in synchronism in any adjusted position.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention it will be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the Ascope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A-glass labeling and handling machine comprising labeling apparatus, conveying mechanism for conveying glass sheets past the labeling apparatus, supporting means for supporting glass sheets on edge, feeding mechanism actuated in synchronism with the conveying mechanism for feeding glass sheets from said supporting means to a flat position on the conveying mechanism, and stacking mechanism actuated in synchronism with the conveying mechanism for stacking the labeled sheets.

2. A glass labeling and handling machine comprising means for supporting a plurality of glass sheets on edge, labeling apparatus, conveying mechanism for conveying the glass sheets past the labeling apparatus, feeding mechanism for feeding glass sheets individually in flat position to said conveying mechanism adjacent one end thereof, stacking mechanism adjacent the opposite end of said conveying mechanism for stacking the glass sheets on edge, and means associated with said conveying mechanism for actuating the feeding mechanism, the labeling apparatus and the stacking mechanism to cause them to successively operate upon each glass sheet.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of continuous conveying mechanism, means for performing work on articles carried thereby, means for continuously driving the conveying mechanism in one direction past said Work performing means, feeding mechanism including a continuous belt for feeding articles to said conveying mechanism, means for intermittently actuating said feeding mechanism in timed relation with said conveying mechanism, discharge mechanism adjacent the discharge end of said conveying mechanism, and means for intermittently actuating said discharge mechanism in timed relation with said conveying mechanism.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of continuous conveying mechanism, means for performing work on articles carried thereby, means for continuously driving the conveying mechanism in one direction past said Work performing means, feeding mechanism including a continuous belt for feeding articles to said conveying mechanism, means for intermittently actuating the feeding mechanism in timed relation with said co-nveying mechanism, discharge mechanism including a continuous belt adjacent the discharge end of said conveying mechanism, and means for intermittently actuating the discharge mechanism, including the continuous belt, in timed relation with said conveying mechanism.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively flat articles in at position, means for performing work on articles carried thereby, means for driving said conveyor for moving the articles thereon past said Work performing means, supporting means adjacent the feeding end of the conveyor for supporting the articles on edge, and feeding mechanism intermittently actuated in timed relation with said conveyor for feeding articles to said conveyor in flat position.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively fiat articles in flat position, means for performing Work on articles carried thereby, means for driving said conveyor for moving the articles thereon past said work performing means, means including a continuous belt adjacent the feeding end of the conveyor for supporting the articles on edge, feeding mechanism, and means for intermittently actuating said feeding mechanism and said continuous belt in timed relation with said conveyor for feeding articles to said conveyor in at position.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively flat articles in flat position, means for performing Work on articles carried thereby, means for driving said conveyor for moving the articles thereon past said Work performing means, means including a continuous belt adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting said articles on edge, stacking mechanism adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor, and means for actuating the stacker mechanism and said continuous belt intermittently in timed relation with said conveyor for moving said articles from fiat position on said conveyor to edge position on said supporting means.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively fiat articles in flat position, means for performing Work on said articles, means for driving said conveyor for moving the articles thereon past said Work performing means, means including a continuous belt adjacent the feeding end of the conveyor for supporting the articles on edge, feeding mechanism intermittently actuated in timed relation with said conveyor for feeding articles to said conveyor, in fiat position, and means for intermittently actuating said continuous belt in timed relation with said conveyor.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively flat articles in flat position, means for performnig work on said articles, means for driving said conveyor for moving the articles thereon past said work performing means, means including a continuous belt adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting said articles on edge, stacker mechanism intermittently actuated in timed relation with said conveyor for moving said articles from at position on said conveyor to edge position on said supporting means, and means for intermittently actuating said continuous belt in timed relation with said conveyor.

l0. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively at articles in flat position, means for performing Work on said articles, means for driving said conveyor for moving the articles thereon past said Work performing means, means adjacent the feeding end of the conveyor for supporting the articles on edge, feeding mechanism intermittently actuated in timed relation with said conveyor for feeding articles to said conveyor in flat position, means adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor for supporting said articles on edge, and stacker mechanism intermittently actuated in timed relation with said conveyor for moving said articles from fiat position on said conveyor to edge position on said supporting means. Y

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively fiat articles in at position, means for performing Work on said articles, means for driving saidrconveyor for moving the articles thereon past said Work performing means, supporting means including a continuous feed-belt adjacent the feeding end of said conveyor for supporting theH articles on edge, feeding mechanism for feeding articles to said confeeding mechanism and the continuous feed-belt intermittently in timed relation with said conveyor, supporting means including a continuous stacking belt adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor, stacking mechanism for receiving said articles and moving them from flat position to edge position on said stacking belt, and means for actuating the stacking mechanism and the stacking belt intermittently in timed relation With said conveyor.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively flat articles in fiat position past a labeling station, labeling apparatus, driving means for said conveyor, means for actuating the labeling apparatus in timed relation with said conveyor, supporting means including a continuous feed-belt adjacent the feeding end of said conveyor for supporting the articles on edge, feeding mechanism for feeding articles to said conveyor in flat position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism and the continuous feedbelt intermittently in timed relation with said conveyor, supporting means including a continuous stacking belt adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor, stacking mechanism for receiving said articles and moving them from flat position to edge position on said stacking belt, and means for actuating the stacking mechanism and the stacking belt intermittently in timed relation with said conveyor.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a continuous conveyor for transporting relatively flat articles in flat position, means for performing Work on said articles, means for driving said conveyor for moving the articles thereon past said Work performing means, supporting means including a continuous feedbelt adjacent the feeding end of said conveyor for supporting the articles on edge, feeding mechanism for feeding articles to said conveyor in flat position, means for adjusting said feeding mechanism for handling articles of varying sizes, means for actuating the feeding mechanism and the continuous feed-belt intermittently in timed relation with said conveyor, supporting means including a continuous stacking belt adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor, stacking mechanism for receiving said articles and moving them from flat position to edge position on said stacking belt, and means for actuating the stacking mechanism and the stacking belt intermittently l in timed relation with said conveyor.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of conveying mechanism for conveying relatively flat articles, means for performing Work on said articles, means for driving the conveying mechanism for moving the articles thereon past said work performing means, a transfer belt cooperating with one end of said conveying mechanism, a stacking belt adjacent one end of said transfer belt, said stacking belt being provided with a support, stacking mecha-` nism for moving articles from said transfer belt to said stacking belt and rotating said articles through an angle of substantially 90, and means for actuating said stacking belt and said stacking mechanism in timed relation with said conveying mechanism.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a conveyor for conveying glass sheets, means for performing Work on the sheets, means for driving the conveyor to move the sheets thereon past said Work means, means including a feeding belt for supporting a plurality of glass sheets on edge, means for feeding the glass sheets individually to said conveyor including a slide plate for moving the leading glass sheet transversely of the feeding belt for separating it from the remaining glass sheets, and means for actuating said feeding mechanism and said feeding belt in timed relation With said conveyor.

16. In the handling and marking of glass sheets, the steps comprising stacking a plurality of glass sheets on edge on a support, individually moving each glass sheet into horizontal position, moving the sheets individually past a Work station, marking the sheets at the work station, and thereafter restacking the sheets on edge.

17. In the handling and marking of glass sheets, the steps comprising stacking a plurality of glass sheets on edge in a substantially vertical position on a support, intermittently feeding the stack of sheets forward toward conveying mechanism, individually and intermittently moving each glass sheet into horizontal position on the conveying mechanism, moving the sheets individually past a Work station, marking the sheets at the Work station, and thereafter restacking the sheets on edge.

18. In the handling and marking of glass sheets, the steps comprising stacking a plurality of glass sheets on edge in a substantially vertical position on a support, intermittently feeding the stack of sheets forward toward conveying mechanism, individually and intermittently moving each glass sheet into horizontal position on the conveying mechanism, moving the sheets individually past a Work station, marking the sheets at the work station, and thereafter automatically and in timed relation relative to the conveying mechanism restacking the sheets on edge.

19. In the handling of glass sheets, the steps comprising stacking a plurality of glass sheets on edge on a support, individually moving each glass sheet into horizontal position, moving the sheets individually past a work station, performing Work on the sheets at said station, thereafter restacking the sheets on edge automatically and in timed relation to the movement of the sheets past the Work station.

20. In the handling of glass sheets, the steps comprising stacking a plurality of sheets on edge on a support, individually moving each glass sheet into horizontal position in timed relation relative to conveying mechanism, moving the sheets by the conveying mechanism individually past a Work station, performing Work on the sheets at the station, and thereafter restacking the sheets on edge automatically and in timed relation relative to the conveying mechanism.

SYLVESTER F. GREIN. PETE G. MAGRINI. 

